Engagement with political, social, and civil issues is a fundamental component of an educated population, but civic knowledge and engagement are decreasing among adolescents and young adults. A Psychology in Current Events class sought to increase this engagement and key skills such as critical thinking. A one-group pretest-posttest…

This article reports the move from paper-based marking (PBM) to onscreen marking (OSM) in Hong Kong for the subject Liberal Studies--whose objectives involve broadening students' horizons through critical examination of current issues. While currently a small candidature subject of approximately 3300, from 2009, the subject will become compulsory…

This article reviews the moral dilemmas that a teacher faces in the classroom when teaching recent history which deals with military regimes, violation of human rights (1973-1990) and the transition to democracy in Chile (1990-2008). Furthermore, it explores the neutrality of the content taught; the ideological standpoints of the teachers and the…

Describes the use of a modified congressional constituent questionnaire to illustrate to secondary social studies students the range of political attitudes (conservative to liberal) on current issues. A sample questionnaire is included. (AM)

Educators at the University of Southampton and Sheffield Hallam University have used an online questionnaire and follow up focus groups to establish how much students embarking on courses in business, management and politics know about current affairs and to explore some of the pedagogic and procedural issues associated with research of this kind.…

A study addressed specific topics related to the teaching of current events through a teacher survey asking the more general question: How do social studies teachers who are members of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) teach current events in their classrooms? Questionnaires were mailed to a random, national sample of 598 members…

This study investigates the effect of CMC participation on language learners' willingness to learn more about the target culture through study abroad. Also, it seeks to discern whether CMC activities improve language learners' self-perception that they have learned more about the target culture. An experimental group of 23 U.S. university students…

This study was an educational assessment of the CNN (Cable News Network) Newsroom by enrolled users throughout the state of Georgia. CNN Newsroom is a 15-minute commercial-free newscast aimed at students in public school classrooms. Supplementing the newscasts are daily curriculum guides (available electronically) that outline questions and…

Certain aspects of the cognate background, especially the social science background, of those who teach young children were investigated. The sample population was 164 inservice teachers taking course work through the University College of the University of Maryland. Behind the study was the feeling that children are not being made aware of the…

Students' awareness of current events from a "Channel One" broadcast is examined. Five three-item quizzes tested high school students' short-term recall and knowledge of the news, features, and "Pop Quiz" questions contained in the program. Questionnaires evaluated students' and teachers' attitudes, perception, (students')…

Reports findings of a study examining the opinions and awareness level of South African, Israeli, and United States undergraduates about conflicts in either the Middle East or South Africa. Finds religious and racial characteristics determining differences in knowledge level and political support. Reveals South African Blacks and U.S. students…

The findings of a study that examined the impact of peace studies courses at the college and university level upon students is reported. The study involved 260 undergraduate students at 3 midwestern universities. At the beginning of each course, students filled out a questionnaire; at the end of the course, students were given identical…

Channel One is a daily 12-minute news broadcast for schoolwide rebroadcast to grades 6 through 12. Three years of independent research have tracked its impact on schools and students. This document contains an executive summary and final report that discusses the research findings, focusing on the research during the 1992-93 school year. At that…

For nearly 20 years, critics and the curious have been asking about the homeschooled: But how will they do in the "real world" of adulthood? As a corollary, they have also asked: What about socialization? This unique study takes a look at the lives of over 7,000 adults from across the United States who were home educated during their…